What is a backpack program?

  •       Generally, backpack food programs provide a bag of nonperishable food to children in need that they can take home and eat when school meal programs are unavailable. These bags are distributed at school to participating children in plastic  bags by their teacher as they leave Friday.  The contents of the bag can vary depending on the food and donations available.  Our goal is to provide enough food to replace the meals that children would receive at school (e.g. two breakfast options, two lunch options, two snack options, one can fruit or vegetable option).
    In Douglas County,  34.7% of children live below the poverty level and
​27.6% of children are considered food uncertain.
-2016 Missouri Hunger Atlas

Mission

        The mission of the BEAR Necessities: BackPack Program is to alleviate the hunger of our students on weekends by supplementing their food sources at home with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food.

GOALS

  1. Alleviate the hunger of our students on weekends by supplementing their food sources at home with easy to prepare nutritional meals.  
  2. Students working in the program and those receiving the benefits will develop positive attitudes and relationships with others and and increase their school performance.  
  3. ​We hope all will become happy, healthy, productive members of society who care about others in our community and beyond.  ​